Have you reached out to your local FIsh and Game Biologist ? Some of these DNR specialists know of waters that would allow just a 'dog training Permit' and get you on some water that they know of , but you do not. Another option is possibly reaching out to 'retriever clubs' and some have grounds that you might use or possibly direct you to some great cover water.

I'm in a region that has a lot of water , but I prefer Ponds that I can walk around and set up long blinds as well as searches. I lost half my ponds due to drought as well as private land changing hands.

With the encouragement of the DNR , Ducks Unlimited members and others , my local county listened to my views to make access to two nice size ponds on county land for dog training purposes. I was required by my township to explain what , and why this was occurring , and appreciated my input. The county will log (per bid) a timber sale , and have a logging road as well as a parking lot made for this project.

* My area has had guys dog training in/ on town ponds, as well as private lands without permission. The above two ponds, gives direction for novice dog handlers as well as experienced handlers access to ponds , instead of lakes.

woodboro wrote:With the encouragement of the DNR , Ducks Unlimited members and others , my local county listened to my views to make access to two nice size ponds on county land for dog training purposes. I was required by my township to explain what , and why this was occurring , and appreciated my input. The county will log (per bid) a timber sale , and have a logging road as well as a parking lot made for this project.

* My area has had guys dog training in/ on town ponds, as well as private lands without permission. The above two ponds, gives direction for novice dog handlers as well as experienced handlers access to ponds , instead of lakes.

I know I am going to sound like an idiot but I know nothing of the dedicated dog water you guys speak of.I know its and old thread but thought I would try to ask.

Coming from the retriever world we also seek different type of water as well. In FT you need lots of land around the water as you may send your dog in the water from 50-100 yards. In HT not so much.lite and heavy cover ( lilly pads come to mind) is very important in HT training.When your train for VDD or NAVHDA do you need skills associated with going in and out of water multiple times (land water land water land water land). That's were you almost need custom training ponds.In advanced retriever work you pretty much need custom ponds for crossing and handling off multiple points.Back to the topic....The only place I know where there is designated water for dog training is H Cooper Black near Sheraw SCPlease enlighten me if your in the Carolinas.

I mostly do water work on private land, especially duck search, then we have the federal refuge but it is limited to bumpers , no gun fire. then we can work in the sound and surrounding marshes. this is Eastern N.C. Forrest

I know I am going to sound like an idiot but I know nothing of the dedicated dog water you guys speak of.I know its and old thread but thought I would try to ask.

Coming from the retriever world we also seek different type of water as well. In FT you need lots of land around the water as you may send your dog in the water from 50-100 yards. In HT not so much.lite and heavy cover ( lilly pads come to mind) is very important in HT training.When your train for VDD or NAVHDA do you need skills associated with going in and out of water multiple times (land water land water land water land). That's were you almost need custom training ponds.In advanced retriever work you pretty much need custom ponds for crossing and handling off multiple points.Back to the topic....The only place I know where there is designated water for dog training is H Cooper Black near Sheraw SCPlease enlighten me if your in the Carolinas.

They don't need lots of land approaching the water. In NAVHDA and (at least what I know of JGHV) dogs are sent more or less from the waters edge.

NAVHDA duck search encourages independent search and ideal duck search water will have a lot of cover in it. The judges want to see the dog work past cover and expand a search independently of the handler.